April 10, 2017 at 7:00 PM - Board of Education Regular Meeting

This agenda contains a list of subjects known at the time of its distribution.  A copy of the agenda reflecting any changes will be available for public inspection during normal business hours in the District Office.  Except for items of an emergency nature, the agenda shall not be altered later than twenty-four hours before the meeting.  The Board reserves the right to alter the order of items, as it deems necessary.

Information concerning the Open Meeting Law, Chapter 84, Article 14 of Nebraska State Statutes, is posted on the bulletin board in the back of the meeting room.

This is the public’s opportunity to speak to items on the agenda. This is also the public’s opportunity to speak to any topic concerning the school district – since it is not an agenda item the board cannot discuss or take action on the matter at this time. Future discussion can be requested as an agenda item. To be recognized, all participants must complete the Request to Address the Milford Board of Education Form. No complaints regarding specific staff members will be heard during a public meeting. The District has established separate procedures for complaints against individual employees. Thank you for your participation.

General Fund for $88,093.02
Payroll for $520,394.34
Total $608,487.36

Bond Fund for $5,723.75

Items to Point Out:

1. Bond Fund - Interest and fees
2. ESU Bill - is higher this month.  There are fees for use of their technology staff and hosting of servers, Project SEARCH which we will learn more about tonight, and fees for use of their psychotherapist for mental health issues for students.
3. $2,401 to Lightspeed is for mic/speaker system for a special education student that lives in our district but attends Lincoln Christian.
4. $3,430 to OWH is for Employment Ads.  This is very expensive, but is still a tool applicants use.  We also advertise on Teach Nebraska which is a free site sponsored by NDE. 

Call or email if you have questions on other expenditures.

Kyle is our 20 year old student that is attending Project SEARCH in York.  Kyle and Nichole will be giving a short presentation.  There is information below on Project SEARCH and we have attached a flyer.

Here is information about Project SEARCH from their website:

Project SEARCH is a transition program for young adults in their last year of high school. It is an internship program designed to transition young adults with disabilities from the high school setting into employment within the workplace.

Project SEARCH began in 1996 at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Concerned with a high turnover rate, Erin Riehle, the Director of the Emergency Department, wondered if people with disabilities could fill the entry level jobs she had. Cincinnati Children’s, along with the Hamilton County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and the Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development turned the idea of filling a handful of jobs into a comprehensive program model - Project SEARCH. Project SEARCH has grown from one original program to over 300 across 42 states and four countries.

The program provides real-life work experience combined with training in employability and independent living skills to help young adults with disabilities make successful transitions from school to productive adult life.

Legislative Update:

Preliminary State Aid under the formula we had in 2016-17:

1. We would receive $1,111,850
2. Which is a loss of $264,813

Under LB 409 as it came out of committee:

1. We would receive 896,719
2. Which is a reduction of $215,131 from the State Aid amount in #1 above
3. It would be a reduction of $479,944 compared to 2016-17 State Aid

Under Senator Friesen's LB 640

1. We would receive $1,867,927
2. This is an additional $756,077 compared to our amount in #1

At this point, in my opinion, the project is on hold until we have a better feel for how Legislative actions will affect our budget.  By no means does this statement reflect my strong feelings that a new track must happen.  My statement just reflects the uncertainty of future budgets and the financing of a new track.

I have been asked by a number of students about the project.  More than I imagined.  And the theme is similar - the legs and shins are sore and they prefer to workout on the grass when possible.  Also, a huge thank you to Malcolm for allowing us to use their track but not sure we can do this in the future.  It has been very difficult managing a track meet that is not at our location.

Track Numbers:

I have attached a document showing our track participation numbers.  It shows the last 7 years and averages, as well as a few years previous to that.

1. Other than our instrumental music program, no activity has such a large number of participants.
2. From 16/17 back to 09/10 we have averaged:
   1. 67 junior high students
   2. 58 high school students 
   3. 126 students per year participating in track
   4. PE classes, weight/fitness classes use the track
3. The community uses the track daily.  Even in the winter.

I struggle with this as much as the board does.  Unfortunately, it is a part of our facility that does cost a lot of money to update. 

We would like to welcome Jessica Barry, Amanda Slater and Diane Kremer to the MPS staff.

1. Jessica will be joining Haley and the special education program at the high school.  She may also be teaching some language arts and math courses.  Jessica has been teaching at Cedar Bluffs the past two years.

2. Amanda will be our 12th Grade Language Arts teacher.  Amanda is graduating from UNK this spring.  She will be coaching Speech.

3. Diane will be our 7th - 10th grade Reading teacher.  Diane has been teaching English, speech, geography, and social studies in Friend for the past 9 years.  She will be coaching Speech with Amanda.

1. Jeff Hass, high school industrial technology teacher, has turned in a letter of resignation.  His letter is attached.
2. TJ Meyer, elementary principal, has turned in a letter of resignation.

I would like this in two motions.  Jeff's is in the recommended motion box.  TJ's is started below but will need to be added to by the board.

Motion to accept the resignation of TJ Meyer effective April 10, 2017 and ......

I would like to move into Executive Session to discuss this item and the negotiations item.  I suggest we go in for this item, come out and take action, and then move into Exec again for the negotiations item.

Motion to move into Executive Session for purposes of discussing items VII B - Staff Resignations.  Executive Session is necessary the protection of the public interest, and the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of the individual or individuals because they have not requested a public hearing.

I would like to move into Executive Session for this item. 

Motion to move into Executive Session for purposes of discussing item VII C - Staff Negotiations.  Executive Session is necessary the protection of the public interest, and the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of the individual or individuals because they have not requested a public hearing.

The Board of Education reserves the right to enter into Closed/Executive Session for 1) the protection of the public interest, or 2) the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual, and/or the individual has not requested a public meeting. When making a motion to enter into Closed/Executive Session, the member making the motion should be as specific as possible as to the reason(s) for executive session.

The Board President will restate the reason for Closed/Executive Session after the motion has been acted on.